c. 2004 Religion News Service

WASHINGTON _ Despite congressional foot-dragging, President Bush renewed his commitment to the role of religious charities in solving the nation’s social problems Tuesday (June 1) with an address to faith leaders and social service providers at the first National White House Conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

“I believe it is in the national interest that government stand side by side with people of faith who work to change lives for the better,” the president told more than 1,500 people gathered at the Washington Hilton. “I’ve told our government, the people in my government, rather than fear faith-based programs, welcome them. They’re changing America. They do a better job than government can do.”

The daylong, election-year conference followed 12 regional conferences that the Bush administration has held across the country.

In a 40-minute speech laced with examples of how people from addicts to refugees have been assisted by faith-based organizations, Bush spoke of “miracles” that have occurred and hearts and souls that have been changed one by one.

Clearly comfortable with his audience, Bush cited a former inmate and drug addict who was helped by a rescue mission _ and by reading the Bible.

“It’s a powerful change agent when you start reading the Bible in prison,” the president said, drawing applause. “This guy was lost and now he’s found.”

The president also gave his audience what he billed as a “progress report” on how his administration has worked to increase access to government funding for faith-based groups.

He cited the estimated $1.1 billion in competitive grants in five federal agencies to faith-based groups in fiscal year 2003 and new and proposed regulations from several Cabinet departments and the U.S. Agency for International Development that aim to “end the discrimination” against faith-based groups pursuing grants.

Administration officials say they are continuing to respond to Bush’s 2002 executive order to treat faith-based organizations equally with other groups seeking grants and other financial assistance.

One of the rules being finalized by the Department of Labor would permit a person with an “individual training account” voucher to use it at a qualified seminary for religious training as well as at a community college.

“That’s just fair, equal treatment,” said Jim Towey, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, in an interview.

Although some legislation related to the faith-based initiatives has died on Capitol Hill, Towey said Congress has approved funding for other Bush proposals dealing with drug recovery, mentoring of prisoners’ children and a Compassion Capital Fund that provides technical assistance to community and faith-based groups.

The Department of Education has finalized a rule clarifying that faith-based providers of tutoring can be among those that would receive government funding to help students as schools comply with the No Child Left Behind law.

John Porter, director of the Education Department’s Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, said the portion of faith-based approved providers increased from 2 percent in January 2003 to 9 percent at the end of that year. He credited that increase to the president’s executive order.

“We’re not setting a quota, but we presume that since there are many qualified faith-based organizations out there, that with the door open, the percentage would naturally increase,” he said in an interview.

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Religion and regulation were key topics during the daylong conference, which attracted staffers of faith-based organizations that had received funding and those exploring the possibility of future grants.

Catharine Ryun, a staffer in the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, opened the event by announcing that a rabbi and a minister would lead the audience in prayer after she first marked a moment of silence “for those of you who pray differently.”

Rick Warren, the best-selling author and pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., prayed that God would not let the conference be simply another meeting.

“Do something special today,” he prayed. “Start a renewal. Start a revival.”

The Community Action Group Gospel Choir, a Washington group of singers who have overcome addiction, sang “All Hail, King Jesus.” Stacey J. Riley, the choir director, told the audience, “As a direct result of faith-based programs, we are living witnesses that faith-based initiatives work.”

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The regulatory changes _ and other aspects of the White House initiative _ continue to draw praise from supporters and criticism from opponents.

“The constitutional ice that they’re skating on gets thinner and thinner every time they issue new regulations,” said the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

At a national forum of Christians for Faith-Based Initiatives held on Capitol Hill the week before the White House gathering, speakers took a different view.

Stanley Carlson-Thies, a fellow at the Center for Public Justice and a former staffer in the White House office dealing with faith-based issues, considers the regulations, the 2002 executive order and the federal offices addressing faith-based matters to be significant milestones.

“The faith-based initiative has not stopped just because Congress has been reluctant to pass legislation that supports the Bush initiative,” he said on May 26.

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